Disclaimer: Everything is owned by Midway
(Sub-Zero) (Living Forest)
The bane to day's light was nearing. It felt as if my new companion, Kenshi, and I have been walking for at least twenty miles. We were exhausted, and well-earned rest in this unusually peaceful forest seemed to provide itself exactly when desired. For once since my journey into Outworld to battle the Deadly Alliance, things were going right.
"We should set camp," I suggested to Kenshi, freeing my thoughts.
"Yes," he said with a nod, "I could use some relaxation... The wounds still ache and it's been a tiresome walk, but at least I'm not surrounded by people who want to kill me," he said in a light humor and with a plain grin.
I started to motion towards one of the younger, faceless trees to carve away and gather firewood, but then I looked down at my hands and remembered how ice was forcefully spread onto my arms naturally since gaining the Dragon Medallion. Kenshi noticed that my footsteps stopped, and could somehow tell I was slightly troubled.
"What's wrong?" He asked in concern.
"I'm a Cryomancer..."
"A Cryomancer? What's a Cryomancer?"
"A once lively race of here in Outworld. We have control over the force of nature that is ice, and can generate it from our bodies. However, this complicates our need for firewood..." my voice sunk to a dire disappointment when I finished explaining.
Kenshi beamed. "Ah, that is no problem," he replied.
"What makes you say so? You're blind. I'm not trying to be prejiduce against your disability, but it would be just as hard for you to get firewood as it is for myself."
"No, no, no, it's no problem at all..." Kenshi said as he shook his head back and forth. He then poised his two hands in different directions, looking as if tensely concentrated.
At first I thought he was trying to feel around for trees. I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. I started to get ready to peel the bark off a tree when something amazing happened.
A blue light glowed onto Kenshi's hands, and for a moment the air grew silent and stiff. Then, I heard a snapping and crackling noise of the trees. The roots of the tree next to my foot vibrated slightly, and in the next instant several well-sized branches broke from the tall trees and hovered to an empty circle of dirt between us, swirling rythmetically. Underneath my mask I gaped in awe. Kenshi then manuevered his hands in another way, and those branches broke into smaller pieces, some unnecessary left over wood being tossed into the distance.
They then placed themselves onto a pile in the middle of the circle, and the top two sticks raised a little before rubbing together violently, the first spark appearing almost instantaneously upon Kenshi's command. I could see by his uncomfortable, frowning expression that he was concentrating pretty hard. Soon the two sticks managed to ignite, the flame bursting in a way just as surprising as the amazing display of talent Kenshi demonstrated seconds before.
"That's incredible..." I mumbled, awestruck by his unique ability.
"I'm quite skilled in telekinesis, thanks to a friend of mine," Kenshi explained as he smiled triumphantly, as if he could marvel at his creation. "Sure beats going lumberjack, doesn't it?" he jeered as he sat down a foot away from the flame and placing his hands out in front to keep them warm.
I was still speechless by Kenshi's unbelievable deed, but took a seat on the opposite side of the fire, grateful to once again be able to place my trust in a loyal ally.
(Nekros, Netherrealm)
As Noob sprang from the top of the Slaughterhouse to finish Shinnok, the god once again disappeared. He flashed back into vision in the same purple light to Noob's left, who was busy trying to pry his scythe out of the soil. Shinnok managed to club Noob hard in the back, causing him to sink down a little, supported on a single knee as he briefly yelled in pain. The wraith glared back as his enemy before springing into an unseen mule kick that hit Shinnok square in the chest, sending him stumbling back before Noob managed to wedge his blade out from the ground and poised himself in a prepared stance, facing Shinnok as they circled each other, glaring menacingly into each other's eyes.
Meanwhile, Smoke was doing away with Shinnok's minions easily as their own blades passed through his body like thin air. Smoke was cackling manically as he stabbed and gutted his foes with dual bloodstained broadswords. Releasing a powerful battle cry, he charged at the remaining flurry of Brotherhood traitors who were fearfully fleeing in retreat, but Smoke mercilessly carved them open and smashed their skulls against the dirt, smearing it with huge gushing blasts of jet black.
"Help me, Smoke!" Noob demanded as he parried Shinnok's swift staff combos.
Smoke sprinted to the front of the Slaughterhouse, readying his broadswords as he leapt towards the god and swiped sideways in a strike intended to behead Shinnok. However, the moment he jumped two more skeleton hands emerged from the ground and tried to pin Smoke in place. Though Smoke, his body of the gray gas that was the same name, passed through the hands completely unharmed, his swords were caught in the bones and dragged back down into the floor.
"Your magic is innocuous to me, god. Surrender to Lord Noob, or die."
"Are you insane, cyborg? I am the God of Death. If anyone shall perish tonight, it will be both of you," Shinnok replied ominously as he turned to Smoke, ready to bash him with his amulet staff. However, at that moment Noob had caught Shinnok off guard with a jumping spin kick to the back of his head. Shinnok released a cry of shock and fell to the ground, stunned. With a vicious yell, Noob tried to hammer his blade flat down onto Shinnok's neck, but the god perished just in time. Smoke was about to follow him, his feet already vanishing as he prepared to teleport, but Noob stopped him.
"He has retreated, Smoke. The day is ours. When the time comes that Shinnok shows his face around us again, we shall surely kill him."
"... Alright."
(Sub-Zero) (Living Forest)
That night Kenshi and I talked of our places in Earthrealm before getting involved in Mortal Kombat. Kenshi seemed to live a life much different from mine of the Lin Kuei, one that I believe rightfully belonged to him. His passionate devotion to the sport of fighting, not for the blood, not for the chance to kill, but the exciting rush of adrenaline and the chance to test himself against worthy competition; though it seemed feeble and naive, like a child's thing, it nonetheless was nobly innocent, and I couldn't object against that.
The Lin Kuei, however, took this much more seriously. Not only was it vital to them to come out on top and be the best of them all, but to take the life of anyone in your way, to remain loyal to their strict code of honor throughout your life. Now that the clan has been renowned and reclaimed under my name, I feel that justice has been done. Now I no longer need to fear the resurfacing of the burden that is a horrible, cruel clan that values nothing productive and lives on bloodshed.
"The Lin Kuei used to be aggressively vigorous in their creed... No mercy for anyone who opposed... Not even those that coexisted in the clan... But now that I'm Grandmaster, such beliefs are abolished."
"That's a relief. Your clan must be grateful to not have to worry about it any longer, and a warrior who not only respects their enemies but understands life through the opposite perspective brings much honor to their name. I imagine your clan is very proud."
"Indeed, they are... I am praised often for turning the Lin Kuei's name around so drastically. In the past, decades ago, China feared us left and right. A single glimpse of blue in the shadows would send city guards running for the hills."
Kenshi laughed lightly. Though he was a tormented warrior who suffered traumatic experiences in which his whole life was turned around forever, he knew how to laugh, how to enjoy himself. Even when the world seemed to be at the brink of darkness, he maintained a sense of humor, the single candle lighting the way, refusing to be extinguished by wind. Perhaps this was from golden memories of the joyous days in which life revolved around competition; though an equally damaging value seeing as how often one tries to appear superior to all others, Kenshi recalled the times as friendly and fulfilling. I wish I could say the same - when honing my martial arts skills, it had always revolved around life or death, and despite the all-natural sting of building one's muscles and harboring new limits, I was never allowed to implement these talents productively in my leisure time.
The Lin Kuei of past ages had taught me very much, since I had spent a little more than half of my life in it's hands. But I had learned an equal amount of skills outside of the organization that they not only could never teach me, but never intended to and never had any interest in. The Lin Kuei taught me each and every pressure point and vital organ the human body possessed, and the most efficient ways to damage them, but never how to make good, trustworthy friends. They had taught me exactly how much blood must be spilled to kill a man, but never how to calm down and relax, not in ways to just enjoy life and survey the beauty of the world. I had absolutely everything I needed to defend myself, as well as induce death if I was willing - it's easily stated to consider me one of the most dangerous men in all of China, but I'm not yet ready to live life as I was meant to, a denizen of Earthrealm, where humane nature is the key to peace, to fulfillment, to success, to happiness.
"I was quite formidable myself, back when I'd fight in tournaments and contests. A lot of people came to know my name by watching my fights of TV, or by being my challenger. Some were upset by my constant prevailing, and spread bad rumors about me, but I felt no need to prove my abilities - I knew them for myself, and it didn't matter what everyone else thought. I didn't want to be the best - I just wanted to do the most I can."
"Very good, Kenshi," I told him. "I was raised to believe that I must always prove myself if I was to even dream of having a form of acceptance at all. I longed for friendship, which I could barely find with the scarce exception of Smoke and my brother, and when I had finally impressed the Lin Kuei administration, all it was was pride... They talked of me and acted as if I was a good friend of years past, but I felt treated like a trophy, a prize, that all that mattered was how good I was at what they wanted me to do, and not for who I was, for the dreams I wanted to follow..."
"Sub-Zero, my friend," Kenshi began, "I understand the trouble of striving to make an appearance for yourself. At first, that was all that mattered for me as well. But I learned through hardships that when you try just for the impression that you're a talented fighter, or that you are the most skillful in whatever art or contest you try to accomplish, you won't come out on top. There's always someone who can do it better. But when you do it for yourself, when you do it because you follow your dreams and listen to your heart and dearest will, you will excel at what you love to do. That's how I won my fights. Granted, I hadn't won every single time, but was glad that I had put in the most I could."
"... But you're a supernatural fighter... You're with the Earthrealm Heroes..."
"That is true, but I believe you've forgotten I didn't have telekinesis at the time, let alone a sword. It was forbidden to carry anything lethally dangerous or fight in a manner that would risk similar results. I never had any intention to kill my opponent, not even if they humiliated me with constant defeat."
I sensed a narrow void of hypocrisy in Kenshi's last words, but then I recognized it's tone. Though man can acknowledge his mistakes in his most enlightening, humble hour, there will always come the time when his imperfections resurface and the cycle repeats. Kenshi probably has this virtue deep in the back of his mind, but it sounds like it fades to nothingness whenever he was losing a fight. Now that he was scarred with blindness at the sake of his toiling ancestors who have already passed and were meant to rest, he may suffer this no longer.
"Remember, I was in the Lin Kuei... Top-notch talent was a requirement for my survival, not just for missions, but if I did not impress them I would not be spared..."
Kenshi slowly frowned. "... Oh. I apolagize, Sub-Zero, I didn't keep that in mind... I fear you've felt that this was a useless lecture..."
"It is okay, Kenshi. You didn't know. But now that I am free of the former Lin Kuei, I can follow that. It would definitely save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent on being the best out of entirety instead of tapping the limit of my potential."
"... I suppose you're right. Good, then, I was worried you'd be offended or something..."
"No, Kenshi, it is fine."
(Nethership)
Twenty minutes later Noob Saibot, Smoke and the living remainders of his Brotherhood portion boarded the ship once again. The wraith knew he did not yet have all the military power required to take over Nekros, and that his desire to take it over would call for aid from outside forces.
"Stay on the main deck! Smoke and I have important business to take care of in the captain's quarters. Reef the mainsail, and keep at all of your posts! If anyone approaches the boat, anyone, shoot on sight! Come with me, Smoke," he said after shouting out his orders to the crew. He put an arm around the shoulder of his main ally and led him inside the entryway to the Nethership's cabins. After descending the stairs of the room with the hanging corpses, Noob opened the door to the captain's quarters and ushered Smoke inside before entering himself and locking the door. Sareena was waiting for them, laying on an exquisitely relaxing sofa in a sexy manner.
"Are you sure the Shadow Priests have it working?" Noob asked.
"Yes, master. We even had a few test communications to Outworld, and some unknown entity responded. However, it was completely audible."
Smoke expected Noob to ask "What did they say?" but instead, the wraith approached the crystal orb sitting on a desk next to the captain's seat and said "Excellent," studying it carefully. After a silent moment he placed his hands a short distance away from the orb, and it roared to life with a bright life before fading to the image of the vampire mistress, Nitara.
"What is it you want?" Nitara asked with a mild accent.
"I want to strike a deal with your realm," Noob replied.
"Oh? And what would that be?" she asked with obvious interest.
"My name is Noob Saibot. I'm a wraith in the Netherrealm, or as most mortals call it 'Hell', and I'm the Grandmaster of the Brotherhood of Shadow. We are currently trying to govern the city of Nekros, but we're having some difficulties with internal forces..."
"What's the catch?" Nitara questioned with suspicion, raising a dissatisfied eyebrow.
"Nekros is filled with blood... It is stored in pools, even the fluids of which the Brotherhood is using to keep our ship afloat. The heart of it's blood source, the Slaughterhouse, is a sacrificial place where men and animals are thrown in grinders that tear them to pieces and feed their innards to the pool of blood around it. We're offering your entire kind infinite access to this if you help us conquer Nekros."
"That's very... Intriguing," Nitara said with delight. "I'll discuss it with the others. Farewell, Noob Saibot. Expect an answer by later tonight," she added with a devious smile, and then the image disappeared.
"Everything is going exactly as it should..." Noob said slowly.
(End Chapter)
I feel as if I'm spitting these out a little too fast, but I hope that covers things for now. Expect an update later on, perhaps in a day or two.